Rusty cranes are visible through windows of the powerhouse in Building 102 at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. The cranes will be a centerpiece of the proposed Crane Cove Park. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Rusty cranes are visible through windows of the powerhouse in...

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Pier 70

Pier 70

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The initial plans for Pier 70 include new public spaces that would be framed by buildings including shops, housing and a variety of work spaces from offices to light industry.

Photo: -, Courtesy Of Forest City

The initial plans for Pier 70 include new public spaces that would...

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Warehouses are seen looking east from the roof of the American Industrial Center on December 18, 2013 near Irish Hill in the Dogpatch area of San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The Chronicle

Warehouses are seen looking east from the roof of the American...

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David Beaupre, senior waterfront planner for the port, views the powerhouse inside Building 102, which provided energy for pneumatic air tools used in the shipyard, at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

David Beaupre, senior waterfront planner for the port, views the...

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The empty buildings and ravaged blocks of the Pier 70 district have been off the city map for decades. Now, with nearby Mission Bay and Dogpatch booming, the Port of San Francisco hopes to see it transformed into a busy mixed-use district.

Photo: John King, The Chronicle

The empty buildings and ravaged blocks of the Pier 70 district have...

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Pier 70 on January 16, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. There are plans for new construction around this area.

Photo: Sean Havey, The Chronicle

Pier 70 on January 16, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. There are...

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A rendering of the Market Square area of the proposed development of Pier 70.

Photo: -, Courtesy Of Forest City

A rendering of the Market Square area of the proposed development...

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A sign points the way to historic Pier 70 in San Francisco, a 65-acre waterfront property that once was home to the largest shipbuilding operation on the West Coast.

Photo: Sean Havey, Intern / The Chronicle

A sign points the way to historic Pier 70 in San Francisco, a...

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Rusty cranes tower above an area planned as Crane Cove Park at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Rusty cranes tower above an area planned as Crane Cove Park at Pier...

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Scrap metal yard near historic Pier 70 on January 16, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. There are plans for new construction around this area.

Photo: Sean Havey, The Chronicle

Scrap metal yard near historic Pier 70 on January 16, 2013 in San...

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Rusty cranes (background) tower above an area planned as Crane Cove Park at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

David Beaupre, senior waterfront planner for the port, visits the lobby of Building 101, which served as the administration offices for Bethlehem Steel, at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

David Beaupre, senior waterfront planner for the port, visits the...

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Outdated equipment sits idle inside the Building 102 powerhouse at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Outdated equipment sits idle inside the Building 102 powerhouse at...

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Sheet metal, some painted, some rusted, adorns the outside of building 12 at Pier 70 Thursday August 15, 2013. Forest City developers are preparing to renovate part of Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif., including building 12 (the former city tow lot), with office space, retail and living spaces.

Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle

Sheet metal, some painted, some rusted, adorns the outside of...

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The massive building 12 area at Pier 70 Thursday August 15, 2013 where ships were once built. Forest City developers are preparing to renovate part of Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif., including building 12 (the former city tow lot), with office space, retail and living spaces.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

The massive building 12 area at Pier 70 Thursday August 15, 2013...

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Building 104, which once housed offices of Union Ironworks, is seen at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Building 104, which once housed offices of Union Ironworks, is seen...

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David Beaupre (left), senior waterfront planner for the port, and James Madsen, with Orton Development, walk through the Building 113 machine shop at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

David Beaupre (left), senior waterfront planner for the port, and...

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Afternoon sunlight shines through the broken window panes of Building 113 at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Afternoon sunlight shines through the broken window panes of...

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An old lathe sits idle in the machine shop inside Building 113 at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Port officials are eager to begin a restoration project on the historic shipbuilding and manufacturing site.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

An old lathe sits idle in the machine shop inside Building 113 at...

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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tours the dry dock and shipyard at Pier 70 with Mayor Ed Lee, Port of San Francisco executive director Monique Moyer and BAE Systems general manager Hugh Vanderspek in San Francisco on Saturday. The Democratic congressional leader discussed the importance of investing in infrastructure projects and job creation.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tours the dry dock and shipyard...

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Probably the oldest building in the Pier 70 area, the Kneass Building at 671 Illinois Street reputedly dates from 1878. One of several small boat builders in the area, it was the site of an important shop, George Kneass & Sons, operated by the Kneass family for almost 100 years.

Photo: Ralph Wilson

Probably the oldest building in the Pier 70 area, the Kneass...

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The tower near the Bay Bridge is visible from building 12 at Pier 70 Thursday August 15, 2013. Forest City developers are preparing to renovate part of Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif, including building 12 (the former city tow lot), with office space, retail and living spaces.

Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle

The tower near the Bay Bridge is visible from building 12 at Pier...

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A hawk pauses in the fortress that is building 12 at Pier 70 Thursday August 15, 2013. Forest City developers are preparing to renovate part of Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif., including building 12 (the former city tow lot), with office space, retail and living spaces.

Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle

A hawk pauses in the fortress that is building 12 at Pier 70...

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Patrick Keenan (right) and Steven Lucero stand among some old storage containers which will be replaced with modern shipping containers with windows for the popup events in San Francisco, Calif Tuesday December 3, 2013. SQFT is planning a development in a parking lot at 20th and Illinois Streets for next year that will include retail, restaurants, even a hotel and drive-in theatre all with shipping containers.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Patrick Keenan (right) and Steven Lucero stand among some old...

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Windows looking out onto the neighborhood and the vast asphalt areas of building 12 Thursday August 15, 2013. Forest City developers are preparing to renovate part of Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif., including building 12 (the former city tow lot), with office space, retail and living spaces.

Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle

Windows looking out onto the neighborhood and the vast asphalt...

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Looking west at the huge building 12 at Pier 70 Thursday August 15, 2013 where developers say they will keep the old flavor of the building. Forest City developers are preparing to renovate part of Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif., including building 12 the former city tow lot, with office space, retail and living spaces.

Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle

Looking west at the huge building 12 at Pier 70 Thursday August 15,...

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The interior of building 12 at Pier 70 Thursday August 15, 2013 is 250 feet long. Forest City developers are preparing to renovate part of Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif., including building 12 the former city tow lot, with office space, retail and living spaces.

Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle

The interior of building 12 at Pier 70 Thursday August 15, 2013 is...

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Developer Forest City Enterprises plans to build office space, some housing and a park on the huge asphalt areas surrounding building 12 at Pier 70.

Some writings on the steel beams in building 12 at Pier 70 Thursday August 15, 2013. Forest City developers are preparing to renovate part of Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif., including building 12 (the former city tow lot), with office space, retail and living spaces.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Some writings on the steel beams in building 12 at Pier 70 Thursday...

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The empty buildings and ravaged blocks of the Pier 70 district have been off the city map for decades. Now, with nearby Mission Bay and Dogpatch booming, the Port of San Francisco hopes to see it transformed into a busy mixed-use district.

Photo: John King / The Chronicle

The empty buildings and ravaged blocks of the Pier 70 district have...

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The empty buildings and ravaged blocks of the Pier 70 district have been off the city map for decades. Now, with nearby Mission Bay and Dogpatch booming, the Port of San Francisco hopes to see it transformed into a busy mixed-use district.

Photo: John King, The Chronicle

The empty buildings and ravaged blocks of the Pier 70 district have...

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The empty buildings and ravaged blocks of the Pier 70 district have been off the city map for decades. Now, with nearby Mission Bay and Dogpatch booming, the Port of San Francisco hopes to see it transformed into a busy mixed-use district.

Photo: John King, The Chronicle

The empty buildings and ravaged blocks of the Pier 70 district have...

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The dock of San Francisco's Pier 70 slipped into the water after years of being unused.

Photo: John Sebastian Russo, The Chronicle

The dock of San Francisco's Pier 70 slipped into the water after...

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Wood that supported a dock that stood when Pier 70 was active sticks out of the water.

Photo: John Sebastian Russo, The Chronicle

Wood that supported a dock that stood when Pier 70 was active...

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Seen is a victory ship used to transport troops on Friday, May 7, 2010 in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Jessica Pons, The Chronicle

Seen is a victory ship used to transport troops on Friday, May 7,...

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Warehouse 6, sporting a plethora of graffiti and a never ending supply of mysterious dilapidated pianos is the only Pier 70 building built on a diagonal and sits on the water at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Thursday, July 9, 2009. Photo by Kat Wade / Special to the Chronicle

Photo: Kat Wade, Special To The Chronicle

Warehouse 6, sporting a plethora of graffiti and a never ending...

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A metal firehouse from the early 1900s sits on the water after its wooden pylons disintegrated.

Photo: Kat Wade, Special To The Chronicle

A metal firehouse from the early 1900s sits on the water after its...

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The interior of the Union Ironworks Machine Shop that was built in 1885 and 1886 then enlarged in 1918 holds a giant lathe to cut ship drive shafts and 3 operating 30 ton overhead cranes at Pier 70 in San Francisco, Calif. on Thursday, July 9, 2009. Photo by Kat Wade / Special to the Chronicle

The Golden State Warriors' decision to scuttle the team's proposed arena at Piers 30-32 is the best thing that has happened to San Francisco's waterfront in years - not because of what is gone, but what now could be.

With luck, this marks an end to a string of development battles where the compelling but complex terrain along the bay is reduced to simplistic sloganeering on both sides. There's a chance to tackle the future of the waterfront as a whole, accepting that controls are needed but also that this is an urban setting with ragged edges that need major work.

Books have been written on the demise of the working waterfront and the regularity with which ballyhooed plans fall prey to regulatory scrutiny, public outcry or exorbitant costs. But the best way to gauge what has changed - and what hasn't - is to stroll from Fisherman's Wharf south along the Embarcadero, then across Mission Creek.

You pass exclusive restaurants, expensive condominiums, a pier converted into a private art gallery and a string of public spaces. There's a cruise terminal and a ballpark, office towers and affordable housing.

What's also apparent is the extent to which the landscape remains dotted with worn-down piers and drab parking lots. It's nothing like the precious Eden conjured up by opponents of projects such as the Warriors' arena - now heading to Mission Bay - or the 16-story condominium block at 8 Washington St. that was stopped in the fall by voters.

Pier 70 a case in point

The best example is 69-acre Pier 70, south of Mission Bay beginning at 20th and Illinois streets.

Home to industry from the 1850s on and a shipyard with 18,000 workers during World War II, it still includes a 17-acre ship-repair facility that is the last stronghold of the blue-collar port. But most of the pier in recent decades has served such uses as a place to store towed or wrecked automobiles. All but 10 of the 45 aged buildings are vacant.

After three years of community meetings led to the approval of a master plan in 2010, that may be changing. A half-dozen buildings along 20th Street will be restored by Orton Development, while 25 acres of mostly vacant land would be recast by Forest City Enterprises as "a blend of creative, local uses, living spaces and office solutions."

The master plan treats development as part of an overall strategy to bring such benefits as public open space, historic preservation and environmental remediation. Forest City - which expects to spend at least $30 million on roadwork and utilities alone - has presented initial concepts that include adding buildings as high as 20 or so stories, clustered around 8 acres of parks.

But the vision in the master plan runs counter to the existing 40-foot zoning. And that runs counter to the new crusade of waterfront development foes: Proposition B, which would require a public vote on any project that would exceed current height limits on land owned by the Port of San Francisco.

Prop. B pro and con

The fact is, the creators of Prop. B make several valid points.

This is public land, held in trust by the port for the people of California. The bay waterfront also is integral to the city's shared culture and sense of self. The tracts of land that remain aren't simply blank slates within these 47 square miles, to be filled by anyone who talks grandly of housing and jobs.

But when proponents reduce the challenge on the waterfront to "preventing the historic waterfront from becoming blocked and walled off by luxury high-rises," such imagery is as dubious as a travel guide that reduces the appeal of San Francisco to cable cars and Rice-a-Roni.

Much of the northeast waterfront has been transformed in the past 20 years, buoyed in large part by the city's excessive wealth. Industrial remnants such as Pier 70, though, will require huge private investment - not to "preserve a unique and vibrant vital waterfront," as Prop. B touts itself to voters, but so a dilapidated shipyard can be reclaimed in a way that's accessible and inviting to the public at large.

This doesn't mean towers are an essential part of the deal, on Pier 70 or anywhere else. The danger is in the cynical notion that height in and of itself is bad - that the most important task along the water is to squish things down to score a point.

Height not only factor

Make height the lone measuring rod and the result can be like the monotonous blocks south of Fisherman's Wharf, covered by hotel chains that fill every inch within the 40-foot height limits. There's no chance for a 21st century version of the urban variety once taken for granted, including the statuesque peaks of such revered Embarcadero landmarks as Hills Plaza or the Ferry Building.

If political observers are right and Prop. B does pass, the best-case scenario is simple:

Mayor Ed Lee and his planners will step back and embrace the virtues of large-scale planning. The clear-sighted approach at Pier 70 will be extended to the port's possessions as a whole. Prop. B's creators will take part, if only to show that they aren't simply single-issue naysayers.

When the heat of battle is absent, so is the absolutist zeal that marks too many San Francisco development fights. There's a chance to acknowledge the need for trade-offs, the balancing act that can establish civic values while also granting that major investment can pay off in lasting ways.

Reach that consensus, and height-limit increases won't be controversial. After all, we've seen them embraced before: in 1996, when two-thirds of San Francisco's voters approved a zoning change for what now is AT&T Park.